The Mild Seven Renault F1 Team today began a three day test at Jerez in southern Spain. Race drivers Fernando Alonso and Giancarlo Fisichella were present to continue testing and development of the new R25.

Unfortunately, the team was forced to change its planned programme after the morning dawned dry, but left the circuit damp. Unable to complete meaningful set-up work, the drivers therefore concentrated on accumulating mileage with the new car and beginning endurance tyre testing, completing long runs through the morning and afternoon. Feedback from both drivers on the handling of the R25 was once again positive, reinforcing the positive impressions gained at Valencia during the past two weeks.

Chief Test Engineer Christian Silk commented:

“With the circuit conditions preventing any useful set-up work, we shifted our programme to concentrate on accumulating mileage with the new car. Fernando was very busy, completing 119 laps on our tyre endurance programme without any problems at all. Giancarlo’s day didn’t run so cleanly, with a number of small problems delaying his work, but he was nevertheless pleased with the car’s handling. Tomorrow, we will continue to test tyres, both in performance and endurance configurations, as well as putting more miles on the R25.”

Unofficial Times:

Driver	Team	Number of Laps	Best Lap
Massa	Sauber	60	1.17.501
Trulli	Toyota	59	1.17.700
Zonta	Toyota	47	1.18.170
Montoya	McLaren	30	1:18.233
de la Rosa	McLaren	60	1:18.557
Alonso	Renault	119	1:18.765
Heidfeld	Williams	89	1.18.803
Webber	Williams	77	1:18.985
Barrichello	Ferrari	42	1.19.220
Badoer	Ferrari	54	1:19.725
Fisichella	Renault	83	1:19.854
Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	38	1:19.969
Klien	Red Bull Racing	50	1:19.979
Davidson	BAR	19	1:20.303
Sato	BAR	27	1:20.548
Piquet Jr.	BAR	39	1:20.847
Villeneuve	Sauber	59	1:21.051